Compost
Compost is an essential component of urban gardening. The Garden of Union runs a large (14 ton annually) system in cooperation with the Park Slope Food Coop. Claudia Joseph has been the site coordinator since 2005.
The Old Stone House constructed 3 mega-bins at MS 51 in cooperation with Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 2009. We use these for the COMPOST-O-RAMA pumpkin smash and in a partnership project with restaurants for theMS 51 Science Fair.
Ingredients:
Nitrogen
Carbon
Moisture
Air
Chop or shred all raw materials.
Mix the nitrogen and carbon together in equal parts.
Use additional carbon material, as necessary.
Trouble-shooting Guide
Bugs = too much nitrogen or a wet condition.
Odor? not enough air. Not enough carbon.
No break-down? Too much carbon or not chopped enough. May need water.
Whole foods will remain whole for many months. Entry points for bacteria are key to decomposition.
What not to compost:
Anything greasy
Feces of animals that eat meat
Large items that do not break down: Wheat grass mats, flower arrangements, coconut shells
Starch – can be used but does not benefit the system.
Egg shells look like litter in the landscape, you may wish to grind them first.
Soil – use it in the landscape.
For urban systems, omit all meat and eggs. Most materials will decompose eventually.
To maintain hygienic systems in urban areas, be cautious and monitor your bin regularly.
Turning will speed the decomposition process and help control odor by introducing air into the system.
When you are finished adding material, always cover it with a layer of carbon material so that nitrogen material is not visible. This inhibits both odor and insect activity.
There is always another point to add – observe your system often!